Otto spaethe



(No Model.)

0. SPAETHE.

v HARMONICA.

'No.252,976; Patented Jan.-31,1882.

1 I i .1 Q

v E0060 0000; m 9999 Q I WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO SPAETHE, OF GERA, GERMANY.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,976, dated January 31, 1882.

Applicationfiled June 21, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OTTO SPAETHE, of Gera, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barmonicas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to such improvements in the construction of harmonicas that they are not only inclosed in a neater and more complete manner, but also present a more tinished appearance than the harmonicas heretofore in use. The invention consists of a barmonica in which the tongue-plates are inserted into grooves of the central wooden body or frame of the harmonica, and inclosed by a case made from one continuous piece. The wooden body, tongue-plates, and exterior case of the instrument are united and retained in position by a mouth-piece, which is screwed at the ends to the wooden body and provided with a baserim that binds over the sheet-metal case.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figurel represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved harmonica, taken partly through the center and partly in front of the reed plate. Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in vertical transverse section. Fig. 5 is a side view, Fig. at a plan view, and Fig. 5 a top view, with mouthpiece detached, of a harmonica with a single mouth-piece.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In thedrawings,Arepresents the metal plates which carry the metallic tongues or reeds. These tongue-plates A are inserted into grooves B of the wooden body or frame 0, around which a lnetalcoveringplate or case, D, which is made of one continuous piece of sheet metal, is placed. E is the mouth-piece, which is pro- (No model.)

vided with an overlapping base-rim, a, so as to retain the ton gue-plates A, case D, and wooden frame 0 in position. The mouth-piece E is screwed by means ofend screws,b,to the wooden frame O, as shown clearlyin Fig. 1. The mouthpiece E is made of wood, hard rubber, or other suitable material, as desired. This construction dispenses with the nailing of the tongueplates to the wooden frame, and with the packing interposed between the ton gue-plates and frame used in the old style, while the continuous case protects the instrument in a neater and more durable manner.

The harmonicas may be made as single harmonicas, with one mouth-piece, as in Figs. 3 to 5, or as double harmonicas with two monthpieces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In a harmonica, the combination, with the wooden frame 0, having longitudinal grooves B, of tongueplates A, case D, and retaining mouth-piece E, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in harmonicas, the combination ofa wooden frame or body, (J, having longitudinal grooves B, ton gue-platesA A, case D, made of one continuous piece of metal, and a mouth-piece, E, having a base-rim,a substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of April, 1881. r

OTTO SPAETHE.

Witnesses:

G. BRUNO, Jr., FIDES SCHMIDT. 

